Part I :

To Wither and Die

_______________________________

"Everytime I try to fly
I fall without my wings

I feel so small

I guess I need you, baby

And everytime I see you in my dreams

I see your face, it's haunting me

I guess I need you baby"

_______________________________

5 Months Later...

Yuna flinched, holding back to opening her eyes to the morning as she lay on her small canopy bed in Besaid Island. While tossing and turning from the light leaking from the doorway of her tent, she pulled up the soft blanket up to her face, covering her eyes from the brightness of the outside. She had really needed some sleep. It had been impossible lately, though. Her disappointment coming from her heart, a heavy sinking feeling. Knowing that she had never found him. It had been upsetting - although she knew deep in her heart that there was always a place for him - a place to keep all the memories of their journey together - locked and sealed.

A small tear escaped from Yuna's eyes.

But as soon as she heard a squeal, she ceased the tears sliding down her soft cheeks, as she heard the exclamation popping through the curtain door of the tent she was residing in, Yuna then pretended to be asleep as Rikku jumped up and down excitedly.

"Yunie! Wake up! We have visitors!" she squeaked, the Al Bhed's voice cheery as she continued to exclaim her excitement.

"Five.... more minutes?" she grumbled, pretending to be in the midst of sleep. Hiding beneath the sheets, Yuna tossed around, turning her back away from Rikku - whose eyebrow arched as she watched her trying to go back to sleep - or seem to.

"Yunie, I know you're fakin' it! C'mon wake up! Guess who's here!" Rikku then took a hold of the blanket that was now covering Yuna's head, yanking it off from the bed. Yuna closed her eyes tightly, shivering as she felt the now cool air coming from the outside. Rikku only smirked as she began to poke Yuna repeatedly, only to leave a very ticklish Yuna laughing as she tried to keep her eyes shut.

"C'mon Rikku! No fair! Need sleep!" Yuna gasped out, Rikku stopped in her cleverly teasing pokes as she began to clap her hands in Yuna's ears.

"Well, get up then sleepy head! Guess who's here?"

Yuna arched a brow in confusion...could it be possibly him? If Rikku was able to keep it somewhat a surprise, Yuna knew too well that Rikku was behind something of it. Yuna then beamed a small smile as she sat upright on the edge of her canopy bed. Looking into Rikku's deep peaceful sense of facial expression.

"Is it him?" Yuna's heart leaped with hope, grabbing the now wrinkled blanket behind her as she wrapped it around her shoulder, shielding her from the cold air. She had only wished however, that the warm soft blanket was those of the arms of Tidus'. She had felt so safe that night - the night where they had shared their very first kiss together, his arms, and his guiding shield of protection. That night in Lake Macalania, where he had promised her: that he would stay with her...always. It would have made her day of the sun today, if she had been able to see him again. His arms wide open, grasping her into himself. To feel his warmth...

Rikku only frowned.

"Well um, Yuna..."

Yuna's hope then escaped with her smile, slouching at the edge of the bed as she stared at the dirt floor. Pretending to face the truth, nodding her head in approval in understanding. She had wanted to shed another pair of tears stream down her cheeks, but what use what would it be? She knew that tears can't bring him back. It hadn't been working for the past few months, and it won't work now. Maybe never. She will always however, have a place for him in her heart. A good place, something that will always be important to her...

But she wanted to feel his presence so bad.

"Don't worry Rikku. I...Understand." Yuna sighed, gripping the blanket tighter, enclosing it once more around her body.

Rikku eventually kneeled down to Yuna's level as she sat down solemnly, her facial expression of sadness. Rikku had always known that Yuna would wait for him - she had never given up hope. She was like that sometimes. A wistful dreamer, someone who would never stop dreaming...especially about him. Although she had known about Yuna's feelings so far for these past few months, she hadn't known about her true suffering. Her loneliness. It had only made Rikku disappointed - disappointed at the journey's end.

Rikku placed a hand on Yuna's blanket-covered shoulder, "Yuna, I don't want to see you sad anymore. He'll come back. I know it. I have this feeling he will..."

Yuna came back into contact with Rikku's green eyes, her eyes of a serious and promising gaze. She was known to trust her own cousin, but she couldn't help but possibly doubt about his return. Tidus was a dream, a dream of the Fayth. A perfect dream for Yuna, the one that had come true to understand what she went through during her pilgrimage. To understand and wanting her not to wither and die. Wanting her to live on with her life, and continue to keep dreaming... and dreams live on to the heart right?

Right.

But she just didn't know what to think of anymore...she just sure hoped that Tidus was happy - wherever he was in the Farplane. That his smile is continuing to brighten his father's, her father's and Auron's face. And especially to rest and live in peace after 1000 years...

***

A loud scream filled the abyss of the Farplane, with every single soul to turn around to see an upset Tidus.

"Since when did you learn that move?!" he cried, as him and Jecht stirred up an amusing game of blitzball.  Jecht only laughed as he hollered and taunted in victory, patting a hard slap on his son's shoulder.

It had been a while since Tidus had played a true game - although playing the game of blitzball currently gave him true memories. The very first and last time in Luca, where he had actually played for the Besaid Aurochs was his last game, the exact place where he had spent some time with the gang. Something that he would always cherish to that very moment. Although never really playing for a maximum amount of time, but he had done the right thing - knowing that Wakka was truly the crowd stealer for the day.  He would never especially forget, something that was dearly important to his heart: teaching Yuna how to whistle. Honest to Yu Yevon he had missed her...

By now, the ball was carried by the hands of his old man. Yup, good to know to be back with Jecht, all though it sucked to be playing against a round of blitzball with him. Damn, Jecht Shot Number Two...

"Taught it myself, boy," Jecht grinned as he placed the ball to his side, "Makes good practice for ya." as he gave him a cheery grin, tossing the ball to Tidus.

Tidus replied heartily with a chuckle, "Yeah, I know how to practice for your info..." he took the blitzball into his gloved hands as studied it carefully, later his smile ceasing as he looked up to the blue sky in the abyss of the Farplane.

'So life living as a dead spirit for nearly 5 months...Interesting' he had told himself, sitting now in the grassy area of the Farplane, setting aside the blitzball for now. He didn't know where exactly Jecht went after a moment, but it just made it easier for him to sit and think. Think about what had been going on for so long...away from her. The exact referral to his true love, Yuna. Tidus brought his knees up to his chest, placing his chin upon the joint of the knees. He had wondered many times, about how Yuna's status was now. Did she miss him? Did she still love him? Even so, he couldn't help think about the guilty pleasure of telling her that he loved her back. Just to say those three exact words - would probably make his thoughts of her more peaceful.

But how could he tell her that, when he was just a mere dream?

He shut his eyes tightly, just thinking about her now. Wondering what she was doing now, the tears that were currently forming in her eyes - whistling into the air for him. His heart struck and saddened by the emotion felt by it. Just feeling the very sting in his own heart made him want to leave this serenity...just to be with her. With her warm body, next to his.

Without opening his eyes, Tidus then began to feel a slight chill down his back. As if someone or something was trying to get in touch with him. Still, Tidus remained still in the very position that he was in. As soon as the ray of light disappeared from the abyss of the Farplane, that was when Tidus had felt someone behind him. Someone, dark...or otherwise he wouldn't have turned around, his eyes opening with wide eyed surprise.

End Part One

Author's Note~ This fic will be moving to the FFX-2 section before the 3rd part of this fic. :-) So make sure to look over there. Hoped you liked this chapter...a cliffhanger if you call it. ;-)  Oh and if you're wondering the lyrics on the top come from Britney Spears song called "Everytime". Even though I don't really like Britney Spears as much, the song pretty much makes sense to the story.